Means for raising and lowering diffuser tubes



p 1953 c. H. NORDELL. 2,650,810

MEANS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING DIFFUSER TUBES Original Filed Feb. 26, 194'? 3 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 1, 1953 Original Filed Feb. 26, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 W Q $33 a L I 1L6:3 3X? 9%. g fin l". I

* il A\ I am #7956441 Sept. 1, 1953 c. H. NORDELL MEANS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING DIFFUSER TUBES 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Feb. 26, 1947 mm, mm ix Em l. m w a W J Ell J67 (6000K 2207M zga/ m w dzw wwWW/U Patented Sept. 1, 1953 MEANS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING DIFFUSER TUBES Carl H. Nordell, Palm Springs, Calif.

Original application February 26, 1947, Serial No. 730,931, now Patent No. 2,555,201, dated May 29, 1951. Divided and this application January 27, 1951, Serial No. 208,214

9 Claims.

This invention relates to diliuser tubes used for the aeration of liquids and for the dispersion of gases therein, and particularly to apparatus for supporting an elongated diffuser tube in a tank and for raising and lowering the same from and to the desired position in the tank without breaking the connection between the air or gas source and the diffuser tube.

The application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 730,931, filed February 26, 194?, now Patent 2,555,201, dated May 29, 1951.

The apparatus of the present invention is particularly useful in the raising and lowering of diffuser tubes to make the tubes accessible for repair, cleaning or the like. These tubes are contained in an aeration tank and may be employed in the activated sludge process of treating sewage, ore flotation processes, treatment of industrial wastes, and various fermentation processes, for example, for the manufacture of yeast and penicillin, and certain chemical processes where gas-liquid contact is essential. The diffuser tubes are connected to a main which supplies air or other aeriform body such as gas under pressure to the diffuser tubes through which the ir or gas passes into the liquid to be treated, and this connection is not broken or weakened during the raising and lowering of the tubes.

The apparatus of the present invention is adapted to operate effectively without the danger of disturbing the air or gas connection to the tube even when the tank is filled with liquid, with the result that no liquid in the tank can gain access into the interior of either the main or the tube. Furthermore, because the tube is frequently of great length and weight, it is imperative to provide an apparatus which will support and steady the tube in the tank and which will operate effi ciently to raise a long and/ or heavy tube without damage to the tube or its connecting main either when the tank is empty or filled with liquid. My apparatus is particularly adapted to perform these functions.

Other advantages of my apparatus will be apparent from the description to follow and in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view taken through a tank in which the air diffusing tube and connection and the means for raising and lowering the tube and the connection are shown in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing a plurality of diffused tube elements joined together to form elongated units which are clamped together to form a diffuser tube of any required length;

rality of sections bolted together.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 3-4; of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing the means for clamping together lengths of diffuser cores;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along line 6-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational View of a portion of the apparatus taken along line ll of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along line 8- of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken along line 99 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged cross sectional View taken along line lillfi of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view similar to the left hand portion of Fig. 1, taken along line H-H of Fig. 12 and showing in greater detail the structure for raising an air main and the header portion of the diffuser tube;

Fig. 12 is a longitudinal sectional. view taken along line l2l2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged sectional view, taken along line i25-ill of Fig. 14, showing in greater detail the air or gas connection to one end of the diffuser tube and the means to support and steady that end; and

Fig. 14 is an enlarged cross sectional. view taken along line I4ld of Fig. 11, showing in greater detail the tube supporting and steadying means In the drawings, the diffuser tube or pipe l positioned within a tank, generally indicated. at 2 (Fig. 1). Any form of an elongated diffuse): tube may be used and for illustrative purposes if have shown the form of fluted diffuser tube d closed in my aforesaid Patent 2,555,201. It to be understood that a diffuser tube of any type or construction may be employed conjunction with my novel means for raising and lowering the tube.

As shown in Figs. l-i, the pipe comprises a plu- A washer or sealing gasket 3, is positioned between the ends of adjacent sections. Brackets t, each comprising an inverted U-shaped portion and two op positely directed flanges 5 parallel to the surface of the pipe sections, are secured adjacent each end of each section by welding as shown in 5. Clamping bolts l pass through the brackets on adjacent pipe sections and secure the sections together. Each pipe section comprises a plu rality of smaller sections welded together at their ends, as indicated at 8 (Fig. 2). While I have disclosed herein a diffuser tube structure com posed of a plurality of sections, a one piece tube may also be employed without departing from the scope of the present invention, as will be understood.

The tank 2 has a bottom 9, side walls l! and end walls i2. The side walls are provided with copings l3, as shown in Fig. 6. Although only one diffuser pipe is shown in the tank it will be understood that the number may be multiplied, as desired, depending upon the size of the tank. A winch I4 is mounted on a support |5 secured to one of the end walls of the tank. An endless band |5 extends from the winch to a conventional grooved rotating wheel I? mounted on a support 8 secured to the opposite end wall of the tank, and is adapted to be moved in either direction by the winch.

Channel members |9 extending the entire depth of the tank are secured to opposite end walls adjacent the coping of the side wall (Figs. 11 and 12). Although the channel members are shown as extending parallel to the side walls they may be positioned at an angle with the lower end closer to the side wall. Channel menu-- ber |9, shown in Fig. 14., is substantially rectangular in cross section having a front wall 2i and side walls 22. The front wall of the channel has a longitudinally extending slot 23 which extends from the bottom almost to the top thereof. Adjacent the top of the channel it is provided with outwardly extending flanges 24. Bolts 25 extending through flanges 24 secure the channel to the walls [2. The bottom of the channel is provided with outwardly extending horizontal flanges 26 which are secured to the bottom of the tank by means of bolts 2?.

One end of the diffuser pipe I is connected to the lower end of an air supply pipe 28 by means of an elbow 29. The other end of diffuser pipe is connected to a T member 3| by means of a tension spring 32 which aids in preventing swaying of pipe I and yet prevents undue rigidity in the connection. The upper end of pipe 28 is connected to the air main 33 by means of a flexi ble conduit Elbow 29 has a projection 35 by means of which a T-shaped extension 3|, similar to the one heretofore referred to, is secured thereto. The stem of the T passes through slot 23. The head of the T extension extends 1ongitudinally of the channel and is provided with two pairs of spaced, vertically disposed rollers 36 to facilitate the longitudinal movement of the T extension in channel I9. Rollers 3E and their associated structure, confined as they are by the walls defining channel l9, aid in preventing side sway of the difiuser tube.

A. cable 31 having one end secured to the T extension in each channel member 99 extends around a conventional grooved roller 33 and is secured at its other end to endless belt I6, as shown at 39. Rollers 38 are mounted on supports 4| secured adjacent each end wall I2. As endless band I6 is turned in a counter-clockwise direction both cables 3! lift opposite ends of the diffuser pipe upwardly. Clcokwise movement of the endless belt allows the weight of the diffuser to move it downwardly. It will be understood that the T extensions are positioned in channels l8 through the open bottom of slots 23 before the channels are bolted to the bottom of the tank.

Tubular guides 42 are secured to the bottom of the tank intermediate the length of the diffuser pipe. Each guide has a slot 43 extending arcuate flanges 54, 55, 56, and 51.

longitudinally from its bottom to a point adjacent its top edge as shown in Fig. '7. Each guide has a flange 44 at its bottom secured to the bottom of the tank by bolts 45. The top of guide 42 is secured to coping |3 by brackets 46. A roller 41 (Fig. 9) mounted adjacent the bottom of guide 42 has a cable 48 extending around it. The ends of cable 48 are secured to endless belt I6, as shown at 49, Fig. l. A bracket 5| is clamped to the cable, as indicated at 52, Fig. 10. The other end of bracket 5| is secured to the diffuser by peening the end of the bracket against the inside of the tube, as indicated at 53. Intermediate its ends bracket 5| is provided with The flanges fit on opposite sides of guide 42 and constitute guide shoes extending on both sides of slot 43. To assemble the described structure, guide 42 is slid down with the edges adjacent slot 43 fitting between the flanges of guide shoe 5| before the flange 44 is bolted to the bottom of the tank.

Cables 48 extend around rollers 58 mounted on supports 59 so that as endless belt i6 is rotated in counter-clockwise direction the cables on the side of the guide which are clamped to bracket 5| move upwardly and move the diffuser pipe upwardly at the same time cables 3'! move the ends of the diffuser upwardly. The rotation of endless belt I6 in clockwise direction reverses the direction of movement of cables 38 so as to move diffuser pipe I downwardly.

The number of guides 42 may vary, depending upon the length of tube I. These guides together with bracket 5| and flanges 54, 55, 56 and 57 aid in preventing side sway of the tube while the same is in the tank and as it is raised or lowered. If the tube to be used is substantially shorter than that shown herein, guides 42, with their associated pulley structure, may not be necessary. In such a case, channels l9 alone will function to prevent sway of the tube.

My apparatus is also adapted to function efiiciently should it be desired to raise the far end of the diffuser tube (the end remote from the air inlet end) to a higher elevation than the near end. This is frequently desirable in order to compensate for the loss of pressure along the diffusers due to the friction. By elevating the diffuser along its length, the outside hydrostatic pressure may be relieved in proportion to the frictional loss within the line. If this is done, the compensation will give uniform diffusion for one particular rate of air or gas flow. This method has a very apparent advantage. For example, if the air main or diffuser tube is so set that the loss of pressure is compensated at a low rate of air flow, there would then be a uniform rate of diffusion along the tank when a rate of air feed is low, and presumably when the sewage is weak, as at night. When the strength of the sewage and the desired rate of air flow are increased, there would be more loss along the line which would mean that the head end of the tank would receive a greater proportion of the air flow. In other words, this arrangement would lead to tapered aeration during the high flow, and uniform aeration at night. This then would be an automatically modulated tapered aeration process.

In order to accomplish the above described method of elevation, all that need be done is to detach the cable connections 39 and 49 at the head of the diffuser from the endless band I6. Operation of the winch l4 will thus raise only the far end of the pipe and. the Winch may be operated until the far end of the pipe is raised t0 the desired elevation.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have devised a novel and efficient structure for raising and lowering an elongated diffuser pipe positioned in an aeration tank, and for preventing the tube from swaying while it is in the tank and while it is raised or lowered.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention in detail, it will be understood that the description is intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many details may be modified or changed without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. Ac cordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the exact structures described except as limited by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a tank, vertically extending channels positioned adjacent opposite walls of said tank, a vertically movable member mounted in each of said channels, a diffuser tube positioned between said channels, means rigidly secured to one end of said diffuser tube connect ing said tube to the vertically movable member in the adjacent channel, and a tension spring connecting the opposite end of said tube to the vertically movable member in said other channel.

2. In combination with a tank, a diffuser tube in said tank, means outside of said tank for supplying an aeriform body under pressure to said tube, a flexible conduit connecting said means to said tube, a plurality of cables individually secured at one end to said tube at points spaced longitudinally along said tube, and an endless belt mounted above said tank, said belt extending substantially parallel to said tube. each of said cables being secured at its opposite end to said belt, said belt being rotatable to raise and lower said tube rectilinearly in the tank without breaking the connection between said tube and said pressure means.

3. In a diffusing system, the combination of a tank, vertically extending channels positioned adjacent opposite walls of said tank, a vertically movable member mounted in each of said chan nels, a diffuser tube positioned between said channels, means rigidly secured to one end of said diffuser tube connecting said tube to the vertically movable member in the adiacent channel, a tension spring connecting the opposite end of the tube to the vertically movable member in said other channel, means exterior to said tank for supplying an aeriform body under pressure to said tube, a flexible conduit connecting said tube to said pressure means, and means for raising and lowering said tube in the tank without breaking the connection between said tube and said pressure means.

4. In a difiusing system, the combination of a tank, vertically extending channels positioned adjacent opposite walls of said tank, a vertically movable member mounted in each of said channels, a diffuser tube positioned between said channels, means rigidly secured to one end of said diffuser tube connecting said tube to the vertically movable member in the adjacent channel, a tension spring connecting the opposite end of the pipe to the vertically movable member in said other channel, at least one vertically extending guide member intermediate the said opposite walls of said tank, means for slidably connecting said pipe to said guide member, means exterior to said tank for supplying an aeriform body under pressure to said tube, a flexible conduit connecting said tube to said pressure means, and means for raising and lowering said tube in the tank without breaking the connection between said tube and said pressure means.

5. A difiusing system comprising in combination, a tank, vertically extending channels positioned adjacent opposite walls of said tank, at least one vertically extending guide member intermediate the opposite walls of said tank, a diffuser tube in said tank, means for slidably connecting said tube to said channels and said guide member, a main for an aeriform body outside of said tank, a flexible conduit connecting said main to said tube, an endless belt extending across and above said tank, and means connecting said endless belt to said tube whereby the tube may be raised or lowered in said tank within the confines of said channels and guide member without breaking the connection between the tube and said main.

6. The combination of claim 2 characterized further by a separate vertically extending guide channel receiving each of said cables, said cables connected to said tube through movable guide members slidable within the associated channel.

7. The combination of claim 5 wherein said last mentioned means include cables connected to said endless belt at one end and to said first mentioned means at the other end, said cables extending respectively within the confines of said channels and guide member.

8. The combination of claim '7 wherein said guide member includes a slot extending substantially the entire length of said member, and said first mentioned means connecting the diffuser tube to the said guide member including a guide shoe having a plurality of flanges engaging opposite edges of said guide member adjacent said slot.

9. In combination with a tank, a diifuser tube in said tank, means outside of said tank for supplying an aeriform body under pressure to said tube, a flexible conduit connecting said means to said tube, a plurality of cables individually secured at one end to said tube at points spaced longitudinally along said tube, and an endless belt mounted above said tank, each of said cables being secured at its opposite end to said belt, said belt being rotatable to raise and lower said tube rectilinearly in the tank without breaking the connection between said tube and said pressure means.

CARL H. NORDELL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 725,786 Smethurst Apr. 21, 1903 839,404 Morris Dec. 25, 1906 1,003,302 Weber-Stierlin Sept. 12, 1911 2,144,385 Nordell Jan. 17, 1939 2,454,675 Showalter Nov. 23, 1948 2,555,201 Nordell May 29, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 4,593 Australia Nov. 6, 1931 

